Suffolk Downs

Suffolk Downs, a thoroughbred race track in East Boston, Massachusetts, United States opened in 1935. Famous horses that have raced at this track include Seabiscuit, Whirlaway and Cigar. The MassCap is held there, as well at the annual Hot Dog Safari.

History

The track was founded in 1935 after pari-mutuel wagering was legalized in Massachusetts. The first MassCap was held that year. The track raced through World War II. On 18 August 1966,cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/08/18/delps_bandmates_friends_unite_in_tribute_and_in_sadness/
title=Delp's bandmates, friends unite in tribute and in sadness
first=Eric
last=Moskowitz
publisher=The Boston Globe
date=2007-08-18] The Beatles played a concert before approximately 24,000 music fans in the infield of Suffolk Downs. Between 1990 and 1991 there was no racing at Suffolk. In 1992, this was resolved when a deal was brokered between Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park. In 1995 the Massachusetts Handicap returned from a six-year hiatus with a victory by Cigar. The track is conveniently accessed by public transportation via the Suffolk Downs MBTA subway station on the Blue Line. In 2006, the track had an influx of new ownership, vowing to improve the success and future of Suffolk Downs.

Suffolk Downs has a zero-tolerance policy toward those who slaughter horses. The policy is that if a horse has ended its career at Suffolk Downs and winds up being slaughtered, the trainer and horse owner have all rights at the track stripped from them, including stall space for their horses on the backstretch.

Physical attributes

The track is a one-mile dirt oval. There is also a seven-furlong inner turf oval.

Racing

The track is the host to numerous overnight handicaps and minor stakes. The flagship event is the Massachusetts Handicap, formerly run as a Grade 2 event, but is currently an ungraded stakes.

References

External links

* [http://www.suffolkdowns.com/sd/sd/index.php?page=homepage&div=main Suffolk Downs Website]
* [http://www.boston.com/news/multimedia/Suffolk_Downs_A_day_at_the_races "A day at the races"] "The Boston Globe"
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9tnbUz-unU Video at YouTube titled "A Trip to Suffolk Downs"]